I would not say that it ALL has to be original. You can use other people's work as long as it does not make up the majority of the artwork. The use of other work is allowed if it compliments the final product....not the other way around.

Unfortunately my cheapo cam is limited to nasty 1600x1200 and my skill is well... evident.. but perhaps it may act as example...I look forward to the contest entries..thanks for indulging mecheers

Ps..LOL..I was going to buy a flat screen capable of running a 2560x1600 wallpaper and games but decided instead to buy a used car and a new laptop with the 3000 dollars I had saved...if the majority of vector users use 1600x1200 screens I guess I should move to a better distro for my recycles which fall into the 8% still useing 800x600 and the more common 1024x 768.

if the majority of vector users use 1600x1200 screens I guess I should move to a better distro for my recycles which fall into the 8% still useing 800x600 and the more common 1024x 768.

I have no idea what the majority uses. But I do know that it is better to have the higher quality version that can be scaled down to fit most monitors than to look crappy on the larger monitors. In other words, the high quality ones provide scalability while the low res ones don't.

But I do know that it is better to have the higher quality version that can be scaled down

Ya, I agree with that..I guess most users who download vl5.9 std can create a 2560x1600 image and scale it down to 1600x1200 for the two contest requirements useing included software like mtpaint or imagemagick...I admitt I do not have that skill...thus my silly post...the winner will find gimp on the MMBD will help with such creative projects.cheers